Shortly after 10.30 p.m. on Friday, three police officers, one of them a sergeant, shot five times, at close range, our beloved Bastjan Borg, killing him. Bastjan had allegedly attacked the policemen when they had gone to arrest him for vandalising some cars. He resisted the arrest with a small knife; an Opinel (four inches) with which he used to eat his bread.

According to your own words, Mr Commissioner, in an extraordinary premature press conference you gave to journalists, you said that the police, who were three against one, shot at Bastjan in self-defence.

This is why we are asking you: Is this the self-defence training which the Maltese police are given? Wasn't there another method police could adopt to restrain him? Whatever happened to rubber bullets, nets, sprays, clubs and shields, not to mention a whole list of weapons, which are not lethal? And if they shot in self-defence, wasn't one shot enough? Was there need for five? And couldn't they have aimed at a leg or aren't the police trained to aim either?

Bastjan suffered from acute breakdowns which, every few years, were so severe that we would need the police's help to take him to Mount CarmelHospital for treatment. As for the rest, everyone knew what a heart of gold he had, always ready to help. On Friday, Bastjan was in a bad mental state. We, the family, were amazed, Mr Commissioner, how in your press conference you did not mention that we had been calling the authorities at Mount Carmel Hospital, the social worker responsible for him and the Qormi and Msida police stations for five days beforehand telling them that Bastjan was not well and needed to be admitted to hospital. We do not believe that this information had not reached you but we will give you the benefit of the doubt and ask you to track down the phone calls that have been made to the Qormi police station so that you can listen with your own ears to the excuses which the police were bringing up when we, and Bastjan's mother, phoned, imploring the police for help.

We knew that the more time passed, the more Bastjan could become aggressive and it would have been much easier for the police to restrain him when he had first entered this mental state.

But, it seems as though the police didn't believe us and we were given replies such as: "I am alone in the police station" or "the shift has changed now, and I don't know anything about this, you'd better wait for tomorrow's shift".

A police sergeant even told us that he could not just go and arrest him, unless he had done something wrong. The police even had a go-ahead from the psychiatrist at Mount Carmel to pick him up. Why wasn't immediate action taken? Was it fear? Energy? Or a shirking of responsibility?

Whatever the case, the police did not carry out their duty. Bastjan's killing could have been avoided. Without doubt the police acted in a careless way, irresponsibly and with incompetence and this led to the loss of a husband and a father to his wife and son respectively.

We are relying on your integrity to carry out your investigations without fear and to take the necessary steps so that the police officers responsible for this death will face justice.

If you are not prepared to do this, then on behalf of the Maltese people who were scandalised by this shameful act, we ask you to resign.

FNovembru, The Times irrapurtat kaz ta hit-and-run fejn mara mietet fuq il-post tal-incident. Li hu nkredibbli hu l-fatt li The Times qalet, The Control Room at Police headquarters, when contacted, said they were under instructions not to give any information about the accident.

FMejju, The Times daqqet l-alarm, the problem of law and order has yet to be satisfactorily solved. this task is urgent and has been embarrassingly overdue... U baqghet overdue tant li l-mewga ta kriminalita kompliet tikber.

FAwwissu, The Sunday Times ikritikat bl-ahrax lill-pulizija hekk, police fail to enforce "no entry" warning at Ghajn Tuffieha. The authorities have failed dismally to enforce their own notices. The police who eventually are the law enforces have shown an incompetence on this regard which everyone, regrettably, nowadays takes for granted. The authorities who mounted the "xummiemu" campaign did not bother about enforcing their own instructions. The police did not seem to care.

FAwwissu ergajna rajna kritika lill-Korp din id-darba minn The Malta Independent li feditorjal garret li,now, six months into the second term, people are already disappointed... Very little progress has been made in these six months. The police, probably the greatest shortcoming of Dr. Fenech Adami's first term, show little signs of reform....

Nibqghu fAwwissu u The Times regghet ikkritikat lill-Korp tal-Pulizija u qalet, the law and order situation leaves much to be desired.

FOttubru, Roamer ta The Sunday Times fwiehed mill-ftit kitbiet kredibbli tieghu qalilna, the general verdict on the latter (infurzar tal-ligijiet) is that it is conspicuously absent far too often.

Fi Frar, On The Dot ta The Times uriena kemm ghandna pulizija tad-dahk. Traffic policemen have a fantastic way of doing things. Guess where one parked his motorcycle when he got down to book drivers for parking offences in Girolamo Cassar AvenueValletta, the other day. Right in the middle of the road.

FMarzu, The Times kienet inkwetata, the apparent inability of the police force to solve major burglaries, including those involving large sums of money... has the dual effect of making the people worry about the security measures and of reassuring criminals that the probability of their getting away with impunity is considerably high. Il-kriminali jixxalaw ghax ghandhom cans kbir li ma jinqabdux u jekk jinqabdu xorta jehilsuha.

FAwwissu, On The Dot ta The Times qalilna, people living in areas close to the church at Paola are still disgusted at the way the police reacted to their complaints about the noise and heat emanating from a generator operating from 6.00 pm till late at night ... by doing nothing.

Immorru fGunju u hawnhekk Catholic Outlook ta The Sunday Times ikritikat lill-Gvern Nazzjonalista kif mexa hazin ferm fil-konfront tal-pulizija meta rrifjuta li jnehhi mill-korp dawk l-ufficjali li zebilhu l-uniformi, it seems that government is not ready to do its duty at least in the case of a number of police officers. We are asking only for the elementary fulfillment of one's basic duty. No more and no less. The more it takes government to realize this, the more it endangers the credibility of the whole police corps.

FAwwissu editorjal ta The Malta Independent ibrilla bakkuzi serji u diretti li suppost kellu jqajjem lill-Gvern Nazzjonalista mir-raqda tieghu u jinhall mir-rabta li ghandu mal-kriminali fil-Korp tal-Pulizija. Dan hu kliem li ghandu jiftah ghajnejn poplu shih. Nikwota ezatt, are we being told that the torture and abuse ... was justifiable because of circumstances prevailing at the time? Is this why a number of these persons ended up receiving promotions as a direct slap in the face to those foolish enough at the time to stand up and be counted? In short if one can get away with murder today, or feels one should murder today in the prevailing circumstances, will one be exonerated tomorrow because of today? This was exactly the excuse brought by those Nazis tried at Nuremberg. Bdin l-akkuza biss il-ministru kellu jirrizenja. Ovvjament hadd ma ccaqlaq u komplejna naraw lill-Gvern Nazzjonalista jiehu hsieb sew lill-ufficjali tal-pulizija li snin qabel ikkommettew reati li dardru pajjiz shih. Minflok il-kastig, il-Gvern Nazzjonalista ippremjahom u awtomatikament sar hati daqshom.

FLulju Roamer ta The Sunday Times ilmenta mill-ghagir tal-Gvern Nazzjonalista fuq l-istess kwistjoni, it remains a matter of concern that high ranking (police) officers who disgraced their uniform... are still at their jobs.

FLulju John Sant Cassia li jigi iben il-maqtul Baruni Sant Cassia faqqa wahda kbira meta fintervista mal-gazzetta Kullhadd qal hekk, in the beginning I had quite a lot of cooperation from the police, say for the first month. After the first month when the police found out about the murder, nothing but trouble. Even threats from the police, which my lawyers in England had to deal with.

FNovembru kelna l-kaz ta Joseph Briffa li qal li gie arrestat illegalment. L-Imhallef Vincent DeGaetano kellu kliem iebes ghal-pulizija, The police were arrogant and rough... Briffa was taken to the police station in his socks and pyjamas... Briffa was hit by sergeant Alfred Mallia... Briffa was never, from the moment of his arrest to his eventual release, informed of the charges against him.

Tiftakruhom il-Keystone Cops tal-imghoddi? FDicembru The Times ikwotat lill-ghaqda MOS, hunters nearly wipe out entire bird population at is-simar... MOS was told the police could not take action as no transport was available... The police could not search for the guns because they did not have torches.Xtaghmel tidhak jew tibki?

Fil-waqt li l-ligi tinkiser taht imnieher il-pulizija, jibqa ma jsir xejn. Despite several comments from this column the forces of law and order have not yet cracked down on the obvious gambling being perpetrated near the village square in Hamrun and by the market place in Valletta ilmenta On The Dot, The Times fMarzu

Nibqghu Marzu u The Times ikkonfermat l-apatija tal-Gvern Nazzjonalista hekk, where the government's record remains poor is in the standard of law enforcement.

Il-kaz ta Joseph Briffa. Dan huwa r-rapport ta The Times fuq il-kaz. The first hall of the civil court found that (Joseph) Briffa had been dealt a blow on the ear by a police officer while at the police station and that he had also been hit on the head with a police cap.

FLulju wkoll, The Malta Independent irraportat l-ineficcjenza tal-pulizija., last Sunday, one obnoxious boy kept going deliberately near the jetty (with speedboat) and around the yachts under the very nose of the policemen but no action was taken against him. Many people complain about the almost total absence of policemen, especially between mid-day and 4.00pm (at Comino).

Nibqghu fSettembru u nibqghu fuq il-kwistjoni tal-ghases maghluqin. Is-sindku ta San Gwann jittallab fThe Times, our council has been begging to have the police station manned 24 hours a day. It is unacceptable... We have only one policeman and the station is closed when he is out on duty, on leave, sick or sleeping at home!

FMejju wkoll kelna glieda bejn xi Maltin u turisti. Il-pulizija gew kieku imma, 3 policemen showed up after about 15 minutes. By then the fight had dwindled to a scuffle. Unfortunately they did not intervene and even prevented people from going to the aid of the foreigners, telling them not to get involved. Il-Pulizija l-anqas biss riedu jwaqqfu glieda li ma jmorrux ikemmxu l-uniformi. Irrapurtat il-kaz The Malta Independent.

1998

Wara l-elezzjoni generali kelna l-istess vjolenza li kelna fl-1987 u 1992. Minkejja li l-pulizija kienu lesti, xorta hallew lill-partitarji Nazzjonalisti jkissru li riedu. The Malta Independent kitbet hekk, the celebrations marking the Nationalist Party election victory have been marked by a series of incidents which should not have been allowed to take place. the billboards should not have been so vilely attacked, some of them, like the one in Msida, just in front of the police station, vile words should not have been written or else should have been erased, and most of all there should not have been this upsurge of vituperation against Dr. Sant with most attacking his personal defects and disabilities. More, the police were never anywhere. That not much more was done was not due to the fact that the police controlled matters, but rather because the crowd did not want to go further. Law and order, in the first hours of the new Nationalist government were nowhere to be found.

MANY FEEL, AND WE AGREE, THAT HE (POLICE COMMISSIONER GEORGE GRECH) SHOULD STEP DOWN

The Times

AS A RESULT OF THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS TESTIMONY, THE IMAGE OF THE POLICE CORPS HAS BEEN RIDICULED AND DAMAGED

The Malta Independent

POLICE COMMISSIONER GEORGE GRECH IS THE TALK OF THE TOWN AND A CAUSE OF EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT

Malta Today

FOttubru kelna l-attakk fuq cameraman u gurnalisti tas-Super 1. Il-Press Club u xi gurnali hargu jikkundannaw, Super 1 television cameraman attacked in Valletta while carrying out his duties. Police did not offer adequate protection to the journalists and failed to arrest those responsible. Journalists were offered no protection by the police. Later police officers were seen walking at leisure with the thugs and addressing them by their first name. (altru li kienu jafuhom) - The Malta Independent

FNovembru The Malta Independent iddeskriviet kif jinsab il-Korp tal-Pulizija, There is no doubt that the image of the police has suffered somewhat lately  the commissioners resignation, the allegations of police involvement in the trafficking of illegal immigrants, the legally questionable strip searches carried out by members of the police and police inaction as journalists are threatened and harassed  have all damaged the reputation of the force.

FOttubru Harry Vassallo, ic-chairman tal-Alternattiva Demokratika spjega kif imxew maghhom il-pulizija taht Gvern Nazzjonalista, under a Nationalist administration we have been arrested and imprisoned, shooed off and manhandled. Our peace protests have met the violence of the police time and time again. Our supporters have been beaten in the streets and in police stations .

F'Lulju, James Grech ta' 25 sena irrakonta x'ghamlulu l-pulizija fid-dar tieghu fis-6.45 ta' filghodu. I was asleep when I suddenly heard constant shouting behind my door accompanied by heavy banging. It was like someone was trying to knock my door down. The next thing I knew, I flew out of bed, obviously terrified and wondering who could be at my door. I asked who was there but the unknown persons outside my door would'nt say. All they said was iftah, iftah. And this happened several times all over again. So I decided not to open up. Suddenly the unidentified persons seemed to have run out of patience and my door which was locked was forced open, being damaged in the process. It was the police. They rampaged my house and conducted a thorough search leaving me speechless and shocked. Irraportat il-kaz, The Times fl-24 ta' Lulju f'pagna sitta.

FAwwissu s-segretarju tal-Malta Pyrotechnics Association ikkonferma fThe Times ir-raqda profonda tal-pulizija, while the use of hand-held suffarelli had been banned for over eight years, the practice was back in full force with people letting them off under the polices nose.

F'Awwissu wkoll baqghet tippersisti r-ras iebsa ta' min hu responsabbli mill-Korp tal-Pulizija. On The Dot ta' The Times qal lill-Kummissarju, the commissioner of police needs to understand that for St. Pauls Bay residents it is simply pointless having a prominent building on the main street with the sign police station and the blue lamp on the front door, if the place is closed and unmanned for at least 20 hours per day 

Nibqghu f'Awwissu u nibqghu bl-anarkija tal-Pulizija. The Times irraportat, several personal cars used by policemen that were illegally parked, most of which did not display the V licence required to enter Valletta were being repeatedly overlooked by the policeman over the past few days, though he did not fail to book vehicles in other areas. Jigifieri mhux talli l-pulizija jidhlu l-Belt minghajr ma jhallsu l-licenzja ghal-Belt talli jipparkjaw fejn iridu u shabhom stess jghattulhom.

F'Dicembru, Jan Chircop spjega x'ghadda minnu meta kien taht idejn il-pulizija. Aqraw . . . Allow me to complain about the total inadequacy of the local police force. On Christmas eve, or rather early Christmas morning, I was with some of my friends in the St Julians area. One of my friends, who had a drink too many due to the occasion, (officially Christmas) was approached by a police officer who threatened to arrest him if he didn't stop causing what he termed a disturbance! I approached the officer and told him that I intended driving my friend home soon. At this point I was in turn pushed by this officer. I went up to the officer again and complained about the push I had suffered, at which I was punched again by the same officer, in the neck. This punch caused me to fall to the ground and be substantially hurt. I was sober, so I decided that the best thing in the circumstances was to ask for the officer's number, and deal with the matter when this unjustified argument was sorted out. When I asked for his number, he replied: 500, and said: now you come with me to give me your details". He pushed me up the road to the police van where I was surrounded by 15 other officers. At this point I gave them my ID and they kept manhandling me and pushing me around. Officer 500 kept on telling me to refer to him as Sir, and that he had powers. At this point I decided that the best thing was to phone my parents, just in case things escalated and I ended up spending early Christmas morning in custody. When I used my phone and spoke to my father, this officer panicked and took my mobile out of my hands. When I asked for my mobile back he said: this is ours now!. Please note that at this time I was being held by 15 officers  15 is not an approximation because I counted them. To add to this, I cannot understand why 15 male officers surrounded me, when I weigh 64 kgs and am just 1.73 metres tall. Do they watch superman the series, because in no physical way could I have overpowered them, plus at no point in time did I offer any physical resistance. Furthermore, they left my mobile on and did not even bother to ring off. Obviously my father was freaking out, because no-one knew what was happening to me. Some other friends approached the officer in my defence, one of whom just asked him: what did this guy do? (referring to me). These officers in turn asked him for his details. Fortunately he was not manhandled in the rough manner I was dealt with. Officer 500 came back and punched me several times for no reason at all, breaking my spectacles and tearing my suit jacket, and he pushed me so hard and violently that my backside dented the police van. After some more minutes of abuse, the situation calmed down when a superior officer in charge of PC500 came and asked me to calm down immediately. I was much calmer than most people would have been in such a situation! A few moments later I was asked to leave the area immediately and not return for the night. Well, just to inform the police commissioner and the people who work in this so called police force, arresting or attempting to arrest me just because I asked the officer for his number is totally inappropriate. As far as I know, Malta is a signatory to many human rights conventions. Neither I nor any other person can be punched, pushed or pulled around  this when I was not even suspected of a crime. I had no weapons on me, no drugs and I emphasize the fact that I was sober. If I had not been sober, I am sure they would have submitted me to a breath analysis test. . . A special thanks goes to all the people who came to my support.

F'Dicembru wkoll Charles Zahra kiteb fil-Malta Today tat-28 tax-xahar biex jilmenta dwar il-Pulizija. Zahra kiteb hekk: for the last few weeks i have tried to report an unemployed 17 year old, who lives in govt buildings Triq Wenzinu Mifsud Bonnici, Hamrun. Whenever he feels like it, and at any time from early morning to late in the evening this person hikes up the volume of his stereo. The sound is so loud that even decorative items on the furniture in our house move. He does not seem to give a damn if people are sick or want to rest as they work shifts. At first the police said that, if they could, they would come to investigate. But tonight at 18.50 hours when I phoned the Hamrun police station, to once again report the case, I was informed by PC 1243 (at least that is what he said) that they will only come if I fill in a report so I could take this person to court. So now it seems the public has to do the polices job, and report anyone who breaks the law so the police do not have to dirty their hands. If this is the case can anyone inform the public why we are paying the police wages? In this area of Hamrun, there are 16 and 17 years olds driving cars, but no one cares to report them as if you do, you risk being known by these persons which means more problems for you. This seems to be an no go area as the Hamrun police don't want to do their job. Everyone does as he or she pleases: cars parked on yellow lines, in corners and always stereos full blast. As happens in our block of flats there are kids of all ages who drink and party; and disturb the peace. Why does parliament waste its time and our money to pass laws if the police don't even bother to see that everyone abides by them. In my days the police were the refuge we all had against anyone who feels they can do whatever they want, but do we now? In Malta it seems that the good law-abiding public have to pay the price for those who it seems are untouchables. If someone tries to achieve justice by taking the law into his or her own hands they will end up in jail because of the situation we live in. The police should protect the public and not run away from their duties. I, like the most of the tenents in these flats have had trouble with this family nearby who don't seem to care about anyone or anything.

2004

Karl Consiglio kiteb f'The Sunday Times tal-14 ta' Marzu dwar x'gara wara li qala' daqqa ta' ponn f'Paceville. My friends pulled me away and we went to the police station to file a report. The policeman on duty was very ready to come out with me to see who had punched me until I told him that this person was a taxi driver. Then he said i had better go to hospital to bring a doctor's evidence of the damage done. Obviously, I felt I was being taken for a ride. What also makes me very angry is that there was no police at such a crucial place in Paceville where foreigners are continually being bullied, threatened and insulted by these taxi drivers.

The Malta Independent tal-25.3.2004 qaltilna x'ghamlu l-pulizija f'Paceville fid-19 ta' Marzu. The following tableau took place at around 1.30am last friday in Paceville. What happened was quite simple: a man toppled over and fell down in the street, and stayed down. The policemen, some seven of them, came. For long minutes, they stood around the man. One of them was smoking. Their crowding round the man may not have been the right thing to do. Then, after some 10 or 15 minutes, one of the policemen brought out a pair of rubber gloves, and, after turning them over many times in his hand, trying to see which fits which hand, he put them on. Then, predictably, he crouched down. Predictably too, the first thing he did was touch the ground with his gloved hands. They then turned the man face upwards: the mans face was ash-white. Although the people looking on did not notice at the time, the man had badly hit the back of his head when he fell down and was losing a quantity of blood. This is where it gets comical: some minutes after the ambulance left, the policemen suddenly started thinking the man could have had drugs. So out came notebooks and pencils and the police began to question the people standing around, and then the nearby bars and bouncers. Well, what if the man had taken something: do the police think that people selling drugs have brains as slow as this? Or would not they have meanwhile made their getaway while the police were confabulating and staring at the wounded man? Besides, why were so many of them there? One or two could have coped with the accident, and the rest could have continued policing Paceville. Or can we say that while this operation was going on, there was no other policeman around in the district?

F'Lulju kien hemm attakk vjolenti iehor fuq tobba fid-Dipartiment tal-Emergenza f'St. Luke's. La security u l-anqas pulizija ma kien hemm. X'sar minnhom? Irrapurtat The Malta Independent, two doctors were violently attacked early yesterday morning around 12.30am at the accident and emergency department in st lukes hospital. the female doctor assessing the patient, found that there was no justification for her admission, to which the patient went into a frenzied rage and dragged the doctor along the departments corridor by her hair. The man accompanying the patient punched another doctor in the face. The doctor, described as a veteran with some 25 years of experience, was merely trying to calm the situation. The man apparently stopped at the single punch, however it took four nurses to restrain the woman. the Hamrun police station was also called for help, however there was no response, sources said.

I have discovered why the police freephone number, 800772373 is free. No one actually bothers to answer, so no charge is incurred! Hekk qal Mark Harwood minn San Gwann f'The Times tat-13 ta' Lulju 2004.

F'kawza kostituzzjonali li zewg ex membri tal-korp ghamlu kontra l-Prim Ministru, xehed l-ex Kummissarju George Grech fejn gie rraportat li qal, "Grech told the court (David) Gatt was dismissed because several criminal people had taken him into their confidence and said he had seen a report prepared by current commissioner John Rizzo which was an investigation conducted on Gatt. Grech was asked whether he spoke to Gatt about his alleged contacts with criminals and replied that he had not. Speaking about Ivan Portelli, Grech said the former inspector was among a number of police officers that were the subject of an investigation being conducted by the attorney general. Grech also said that Portelli was on a yacht with a known smuggler whose name he did not mention; along with judge Carmel Agius, another former judge and a person who was subject to a police search by the same Portelli. Grech told the court that when he confronted him about what he had done on that day, Portelli failed to mention that he was on a yacht and only remembered when it was brought to his attention. The former commissioner also said that Portelli was involved with people who were selling cars stolen from Europe."  MaltaToday 24 ta' Ottubru 2004

FGunju 2005, Ludvic Cassar ta 21 sena spjega fil-qorti dwar kif gie trattat mill-pulizija, Cassar said he was thrown to the ground after being punched and realised that a police officer had come to arrest him. He said he received a number of blows to his ribs and was also verbally abused by the police. Cassar said that he identified PC 265 as having repeatedly hit him as he lay on the ground. Continuing his testimony, Cassar said that PC 265 also spat on him and attempted to strangle him. Three officers then started beating him as he lay on the floor until PC 78 came on the scene and ordered them to stop. After that, Cassar said he was taken to the police station under arrest where he filed a report against PC 265 who had used excessive force against him. Ara r-rapport ta The Times tad-19 ta Gunju 2005.

FLulju, hareg il-Kunsill Lokali ta Santa Lucija jappella ghal protezzjoni. In a press conference yesterday, mayor Frederick Cutajar complained that the locality's police station was closed most of the time, even though the locality had been at the receiving end of vandalism over the past few weeks. (ara The Times tad-19 tax-xahar).

FAwwissu Dr. Giannella Caruana Curran u Dr. Manwel Mallia, zewg avukati ewlenin xehdu fil-qorti. Ir-rapport ta The Malta Independent: As Nabel was being held down by policemen, Dr Mallia described the sergeant that Nabel had hit as a raging man. The defence attorneys both described how, after Nabel was taken out of the court room, they walked up to Valletta police station to check where he had been taken. When I saw him the next day in court, it was evident that he had been beaten, said Dr Mallia. Dr Caruana Curran explained that when Nabel was hit in the court room, the blows were directed at his torso, rather than his face. She said that as Nabel was charged over the assault the next day, blood was trickling from his ear and his clothes were torn and dishevelled. When he left the court room, he was not bleeding, she said.I took one look at him and asked him what had happened, continued Dr Caruana Curran, saying that the accused said he had been beaten at the police station. She noted that her clients hearing had been temporarily impaired by the alleged blow he received from PS 710 and she had some difficulty communicating with him that day.

Wherever one goes in Malta and Gozo, one can hear sustained and widespread shooting, including the use of repeater shotguns, which are illegal. Mr Williams then gave an account of his experiences of trying to get the police to take action on August 30, when a heavy passage of herons, which are specially protected species, and turtle doves, the open season on which was supposed to start today, was recorded.

6.13 a.m. Phoned police GHQ, Floriana on the special direct hunting reports line to police given by George Pullicino, Minister of Rural Affairs and the Environment, and widely publicised in the media in March 2005. The officer on duty put me through to Hamrun police station and the constable said the area did not fall under their jurisdiction and passed me on to Paola police station.

The duty officer in Paola said they would pass on the report.

6.20 a.m. Shooting continued to increase. I wondered why my original call was not put through to the administrative law enforcement unit (ALE).

6.45 a.m. I again rang the direct hunting line and asked 'Is this the illegal hunting direct line I am dialling?' I was told to hold on and I was put through on an extension. I waited as the phone rang, and rang and rang, while shots crashed out in sustained volleys all around me.

Finally, I realised no one was going to answer and I had to put the phone down and redial the original number. A female duty officer answered and I asked her for the illegal hunting line and again was put through to an extension. Again, no one answered until I was forced to redial yet again.

This time the same female officer put me through to Paola police station and I was told by a policeman at Paola that they will pass the report on to Luqa police station. I asked whether the ALE was available but he had already put the phone down. It was now 6.58 a.m.

The volume of shooting is now terrific and blatant. I could not believe it was being ignored. It was as bad as any day I heard during the hunting season.

7.12 a.m. Dialled direct hunting line again but could get no reply.

7.13 a.m. Redialled the same number and was informed by that the ALE was not available as they were doing other work. The policeman then said he'll pass me on to the Paola police station and I replied that I had already been connected to them before and that shooting was still going on and increasing. He hung up.

7.24 a.m. I gave up at this stage as I was leaving for Marsaxlokk. Shooting was still constant as I drove off.

8.35 a.m. At Marsaxlokk: same situation prevailed there, heavy shooting all around. Phoned the police direct line again; they said they would put me through to ALE. I told them no one was answering but I was still put on extension. Still no reply. As it was ringing another police officer picked the phone up and said 'hello'.

I asked if that was the ALE. He said he'll put me through and before I could tell him that no one was answering, he had done so. I waited until the constant ringing was cut off unanswered.

9.00 a.m. Phoned Birdlife to tell them the trouble I was having trying to make an illegal hunting report to the ALE. They said they could not get through to ALE either.

9.35am In spite of all my calls the shooting continued unabated.

10.13 a.m. Phoned Marsaxlokk police station to make a report as this was their area. A policeman from the Zejtun police station answered and informed me the Marsaxlokk station was closed. I asked if I could report illegal hunting in this area to him and he said 'yes'. I offered to meet them at Marsaxlokk to point out the shooters but he cut me short saying: 'You've made the report, good day, sir' and put the phone down.

10.25 a.m. Shooting still going on. Phoned Birdlife again; told them the situation and the run around I was being given. They said they would try and report it to the ALE themselves.

11.35 a.m. Widespread shooting still going on - no slackening in spite of all promises to 'pass it on'. I now gave up on the direct hunting line and phoned ALE on a direct line, which I was given by a colleague. I tried this number twice but got no reply.

11.55 a.m. No slackening in shooting. Tried ALE direct line again. No reply.

12.18 p.m. Shooting continuing, as it has been all morning. At this stage I gave up in disgust.

It is difficult to express the frustration and anger I felt at witnessing the law being broken so openly and with such blatant contempt. This was exacerbated by the lack of effect my reports had. I still do not know what other work the ALE were involved in but it seems that the police in general were totally unable to control the situation or even make a serious attempt to do so. As for Minister Pullicino's direct no-waiting hotline I think the above account speaks for itself!

FMejju imbaghad kelna kaz iehor ta ineficcjenza grassa tal-pulizija li resqet 9 persuni l-qorti fuq akkuza ta pussess u bejgh ta CDs ikkuppjati. Trid taqra r-rapport biex temmen: VALLETTA, Malta (di-ve news) -- May 05, 2006 -- 1230CEST  Nine hawkers have been acquitted from charges of selling and putting in circulation counterfeit CDs, mainly computer games, due to lack of evidence. The Court, presided over by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, ruled that from the evidence provided, there was not enough proof to find the accused guilty of the charges. The nine men did not issue any statement and thus the only evidence was that provided by the Prosecution. During an inspection carried out by the police on October 23rd, 2000 and in the previous weeks, the police elevated a number of CDs which were divided into nine packets on site. However, there was no indication as to which particular stalls the CDs were elevated from, who owned the license for the stalls, and whether the CDs were found in another place such as an adjacent van. The Court thus ruled that there was not enough evidence for a guilty verdict, as not even proof that the nine men were actually hawkers was produced.

Ftit wara kelna harba ohra tal-klandestini fejn il-pulizija trattat bmod goff lill-gurnalisti tant li, The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) has strongly condemned the assault by police officers on Ben Borg Cardona. The institute noted that this was yet another case when the police have manhandled journalists and photographers while covering delicate events . At one point, photo-journalist Ben Borg Cardona from The Malta Independent was manhandled by police officers, who pushed him in the chest, with the result that he required medical attention for slight injuries, the (Journalists') committee said. Dan kien rapport ta The Times tat-28 ta Gunju.

FSettembru, ezattament fil-festa tal-Vittorja komplejna nassistu ghall-inkompetenza tal-korp. Stqarrija tas-Sindku Furjaniz tat dawn id-dettalji, The Floriana Local Council condemned the furious attacks on the Vilhena Band Club premises in Floriana by Valletta supporters after the end of the Victory Day regatta. Floriana mayor Publio Agius told the press that he had received confidential information prior to the attacks but the police did not take any action. The mayor said that the police were immediately informed after he had received information that Valletta supporters were going to attack and vandalise a number of premises in Floriana after the regatta ends. He added the police had assured him that a group of police officers will be placed in a number of areas around Floriana, including in front of the Vilhena Band Club. Aguis said that the only police officers present during the accidents were the same officers who were accompanying the supporters on their way to Valletta from PintoWharf through Capuchin's Street. The mayor commented that the violent attacks were not small in nature. They had terrorised both the residents and the business community of Floriana. He emphasised that the police should be responsible for not protecting the locality despite being informed of the attacks. FLORIANA, Malta (di-ve news) -- September 09, 2006 -- 1810CEST --

FOttubru 2006 il-pulizija ghamlu wahda tinkiteb. Fl-istess jum li xi kaccaturi ghamlu protesta quddiem Kastilja, harget ordni sabiex il-pulizija ma jiehdux passi kontra kaccaturi li jiksru l-ligi. Dan minhabba l-iskuza li kien hemm xi tahdidiet li setghu iwaslu ghal emendi fir-regolamenti tal-kacca. Din id-decizjoni kienet wahda xokkanti u li thammrilna wiccna mad-dinja. Apparti l-fatt li l-abbuzi mill-kaccaturi huma minghajr limitu, dan minn meta l hawn il-pulizija ma tiehux passi kontra min jikser il-ligi ghax forsi l-ligijiet ikunu se jinbidlu? Meta t-tibdiliet fil-kodici kriminali kienu qed jigu diskussi fil-parlament ma smajniex li l-korp ha vaganza u ghalaq sakemm tinbidel il-ligi imma l-pulizija baqghet tressaq il-qorti lil min allegatament kiser il-ligi. Fil-konfront tal-kaccaturi il-Gvern mexa mod iehor. L-ordni biex ma jittiehdux passi kienet wahda orribbli fpajjiz immexxi minn Gvern li jcedi quddiem min jahseb li ghandu s-sahha. Nikkwota lit-Times: The police may not have been told not to uphold the law or not to book defaulters. They were, however, ordered to take note and sit and wait. Is this the PN's new style of government? (17 tOttubru 2006) One would have thought that law enforcement agencies are there to ensure everybody respects the laws and regulations. It is not their duty or responsibility either to interpret the law or to sit and wait for the outcome if society in general or a particular section of it presses for any legislative changes. If they did so it would be a serious dereliction of their duties and they would therefore become liable to legal action themselves. To say nothing of the credibility they would be losing among law-abiding citizens in the process. This is not about hunting/trapping practices or irresponsible hunters/trappers. This is about the rule of law. It is about good governance. About the authorities transmitting the right messages to society, foremost of which is that, before the law, everyone is equal. The controversial memo opens a can of worms; it sends the wrong signal that some may be more equal than others; that the government may be strong with the weak and weak with the strong; that the law of the land can be put in deep freeze if that means not annoying a sizeable section of the population, though still a minority, just months prior to a general election. What a shame! What a circus! The comments made by Police Commissioner John Rizzo about the memo are at best pathetic, at worst dangerous. The authorities have long been found wanting when it comes to the enforcement of laws and regulations. This latest move crowns the lot. (9 tOttubru 2006) L-anqas hemm ghalfejn inkompli ghax hija cara d-distruzzjoni tal-ordni fil-pajjiz minn Gvern irrikattat mill-kaccaturi minhabba l-voti ftit qabel l-elezzjoni generali.

2007

Fi Frar imbaghad komplejna bic-cucati fil-qorti mill-Keystone Cops Maltin. Naraw xqalet The Malta Independent dwar kaz iehor ta inkompetenza, In his judgement, Magistrate Giovanni Grixti commented that although the prosecution team consisted of three Inspectors, only one of them took the witness stand to testify. Moreover, the man was charged following a raid on a bar on the night of 17 and 18 August but the prosecution charged him with working without a licence on 17 November instead. The court cannot possibly take such evidence seriously and is of the opinion that once faced with cases that are treated so frivolously by the prosecution, it should proceed with discharging the accused, magistrate Grixti said in his judgement.

Ma ghaddiex hafna zmien meta l-pulizijia regghu qalghu tbezbiza din id-darba mill-magistrat Antonio Mizzi, In a judgment that was particularly critical of the prosecution, Magistrate Antonio Mizzi noted how the women had been charged with "keeping, managing or sharing with others in the management of a brothel or of any house, shop or other premises or any part thereof which is or are, or is or are reputed to be resorted to for the purpose of prostitution or other immoral purposes". The magistrate ruled that although the purpose for which the searches were carried out was laudable, this could not be said about the fact that some of the women were not allowed to change into their normal clothes when escorted to the police headquarters. The magistrate added that the police's claim, that this had been done to photograph the women to present evidence in court, was a crass excuse. The magistrate also noted that, as was pointed out by all the police officers who testified during the searches, there were no signs of prostitution. So, the question was: Why were the women charged with running the establishments for prostitution purposes? He noted that evidence showed some of the women were doing nothing remotely illegal, yet the police's line of action appeared to be to charge them all, then let the court decide. This was deplorable, Magistrate Mizzi said.

Dejjem fMejju, il-Magistrat Jacqueline Padovani giet irraportata li qalet hekk, the identification procedure was not handled well by the police and that in her panic... (the victim) could have been influenced indirectly to pinpoint the accused having seen him being held by the security guards. The court also noted that the prosecution had failed to interrogate the group leader and also failed to produce the evidence of the security guards. (ara The Times 17.5.2007)

Gimgha wara, The Times taghtna dan ir-rapport mill-Qorti, A woman yesterday recounted in court how, after being beaten by her husband, she went to the Luqa police station but found it closed and had to walk all the way to the Paola station in the early hours of the morning. The woman was testifying in the case against her 52-year-old husband who is pleading not guilty to seriously injuring her in the face on May 8 just after midnight. The man is also charged with assaulting his wife and causing her to fear him. The woman explained that she and her husband had been going through a bad patch and the situation had been escalating. On the night of the incident she was asleep when her husband woke her up with a punch in the back. He then punched her in the face. She tried going to the Luqa police station but found it closed and so walked all the way to Paola to file a report.

Fit-23 ta Lulju, Frank Attard minn Birzebugia kiteb hekk fThe Times, The other evening, I boarded a bus from Valletta to Birzebbuga and throughout the journey the interior of the bus was not illuminated. When I complained about the lack of onboard lights, I was ridiculed by the driver who said this was because the cost of electricity had gone up! On alighting at Birzebbuga, I went to the police station to file a report and the officer on duty told me: Are we expected to do everything? Why don't you file your report in Valletta? Fine customer care, indeed!

Fis-26 ta Lulju, pulizija tressaq il-qorti akkuzat bi frodi.

FAwwissu, The Times irrapurtat xqalet il-Franciza li sofriet vjolenza minn Surgent tal-Pulizija, The woman (56-year-old Catherine Sophie Pernot Sprangers) had testified that the officer had kicked her in the chest and she lost consciousness as a result of the violence of the shock caused by the kick. When she regained consciousness, she recalled a police constable speaking to her kindly but she did not understand him. She then drove off because the only thing she wanted to do was to leave the scene and distance herself from the police presence. She also said that after the incident she and a friend went to the police station three times to file a report. But each time they were told that the person responsible was not there. She gave up after the third try.

FNovembru sar hold up fil-bank HSBC ta Hal Balzan. Dan kien ir-rapport ta di-ve news, The HSBC bank in Balzan has been held up on Friday afternoon by hooded and armed thieves. Talking to witnesses of the theft, www.di-ve.com learnt that the thieves used a white van to block access towards the bank from Main Street. Hooded and armed thieves then entered the bank and requested the money before fleeing the scene with the loot. One passer-by told www.di-ve.com that ironically the bank is situated opposite the police station, but this is always closed.

FDicembru The Times taghtna l-kaz tal-pulizija li gie rrapurtat wara ruxmata kliem hazin waqt dmirijietu. Dan hu r-rapport kollu, A police constable found guilty by an internal inquiry of hurling a barrage of expletives following the arrival of stowaways at the Freeport in January 2006 was merely asked to report on his day off as punishment for improper conduct. While the Police Board, which falls under the Home Affairs Ministry, lauded the disciplinary action, a Freeport security official described the punishment as a joke. During the incident, seven Algerian stowaways were intercepted and taken back to their vessels after they tried to enter Malta on board two ships from Algeria. Action against the officer was taken after a report in The Times had quoted a Freeport official expressing disgust over the actions of a district policeman who swore profusely when was called to assist. Subsequently Freeport security manager Ernest Tonna wrote to the newspaper saying that while four district policemen, together with the Freeport security officers, were at the security gate guarding the stowaways, one of the police officers swore and used offensive language because he had already been on duty for more than 24 hours and the immigration police had failed to turn up. When Mr Tonna told him to control himself as his behaviour was unacceptable, the policeman went on to criticise the police force and the Home Affairs Minister. Later that day Mr Tonna informed Parliamentary Secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici about the incident. The Police Board asked the Freeport official to provide details, and after considering the reaction of the policeman to be possible serious misbehaviour, the board reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police. Internal investigations were carried out and disciplinary action was recommended against the police constable involved, board secretary Pio Scerri informed The Sunday Times in a letter dated November 29. Mr Scerri said that during a disciplinary sitting held on November 6, the constable involved was found guilty and punished. I hope that the above indicates the usefulness of such reporting which should lead not merely to the punishment of offenders but serve as an important step towards a more civil attitude in the enforcement of law and order, Mr Scerri wrote. However, it was not stated what punishment was handed down. When contacted, Mr Tonna said the policeman was merely ordered to report to work on one of his days off. Mr Tonna said: I've never heard anybody swear in that manner and for such a long time - and all this from a policeman. The punishment he's been given is a joke - is this the serious image that the police force are trying to portray? Questions sent to the police's media relations unit have so far remained unanswered.

2008

Fi Frar, Alexandra Attard minn BKara kitbet hekk fThe Times: As a Maltese and European citizen, I look to the police as my protection, on the assumption that the police force are responsible for their actions. Some months ago I was a victim of domestic violence which took place in a public area at Birkirkara. I immediately filed a police report at the local station and attached a medical certificate as a proof of the aggression I suffered. It's not easy to file a domestic violence report due to the attempts at discouragement from the male officers. After months of waiting for my hearing in court, at last the day arrived. When the magistrate asked the police officer in the courtroom to present the report and the medical certificate, he replied that the certificate had been lost. For me this is a serious case of negligence that cannot be tolerated. This negligence does not match the impression given by the media which try to promote our police. Can someone tell me what action can be taken in such a situation? Do I have to suffer for this negligence? Is the Police Commissioner aware of this negligence? If yes, what measures will he take to prevent similar cases from repeating themselves?

FGunju, The Malta Independent on Sunday kitbet, Had it been any other vehicle, it would certainly have been stopped by any policeman or warden. As it is, however, it was a police bus, spewing black fumes for all it was worth. It was coming up Great Siege Road on Tuesday, having picked up some illegal immigrants who had just landed at Haywharf. Xi hadd irrizenja? Xi hadd ittiehdu passi kontrih? Mhux kulhadd fil-korp baqa komdu? Xezempju dak!! Imisskom tmorru tistahbu.

Gunju xejn ma kien tajjeb ghal-korp tal-pulizija, hekk kif komplew ir-rapporti ta vjolenza taghhom. Aqraw dan ir-rapport ta The Times: A Sudanese immigrant who yesterday admitted in court to assaulting three police officers had himself been brutally beaten by a group of policemen while he was handcuffed and defenceless, eyewitnesses have told The Times. He was in the foetal position, handcuffed and the police were kicking him and slammed him against their van, eyewitness Rebecca Filletti told The Times. The incident occurred in Paceville's main square in the early hours of Saturday morning in front of a large number of witnesses, even though hardly anyone did anything about it. Ms Filletti approached the police officers to question their behaviour and was arrested. As soon as I started asking questions, they asked for my identification and my details... I said: Why? I did nothing wrong. I want to know why you are arresting this man because what you are doing is wrong. At that point they arrested me, she said. Ms Filletti, who studies refugee law, had offered to assist the man. She was taken to the St Julians police station and was released only after her boyfriend and some other friends went to the station to see what was going on. Her version of events was corroborated by Bernard Galea. There is no way this would have happened had the guy been Maltese, he said, while stressing that the level of violence used was excessive. He said the police kept hitting the man even though he was handcuffed and that he did not retaliate since he was outnumbered by five policemen. Similarly, Ms Filletti said: The man did not put up a fight. He merely lay on the ground crying and screaming for them to stop, saying he had done nothing wrong. Questions were sent to the police for their version of the story yesterday but no response was received by the time of going to print. The Home Affairs Ministry, however, was more forthcoming. We will not tolerate any irresponsible behaviour by the police force but we need to corroborate these allegations so we would strongly encourage these eyewitnesses to file a report with the police internal affairs unit as soon as possible, Darryl Pace, a spokesman for the ministry said. The man, 27-year-old Suleiman Ismail Abubaker, admitted in court to assaulting officers and damaging the police van yesterday and was handed down a 10-month jail term suspended for two years and fined 300. The incident was sparked off by an argument he had with another man outside Burger King in Paceville at about 3.30 a.m. The eyewitnesses who spoke to The Times arrived on the scene when the police officers got involved but the second man was not seen by either of them. A number of bystanders followed Mr Abubaker and Ms Filletti to the St Julians police station to demand information about the man who they felt was treated abusively. There they saw him handcuffed to a railing and later to a bench, sprawled on the floor with wrists bleeding, a gash on his arms, a bruised face and a swollen eye. Help me, help me, I promise I will never come to Paceville again, he was heard saying. He was treated like an animal, like a dog, Katrina Zammit Cuomo said, pointing out that the police shut the door of the station for about 15 minutes after the crowd that gathered dem-anding that the man be treated humanely. The people who were at the station and who spoke to this newspaper claimed that the man was being treated inhumanely. The same three police officers whom Mr Abubaker admitted he had assaulted made similar allegations in court yesterday against another migrant, Kaba Konate, 26, from the Ivory Coast - who also admitted that he had violently resisted them. He was given an eight-month jail term suspended for two years. However, here too, an eyewitness account of an arrest in Paceville, which tallies with that of Mr Konate in terms of the time and place of arrest, suggests that the man was manhandled. Matthew Caruana Galizia said he saw a Maltese and a black man arguing outside a club on St George's Road, Paceville at about midnight (the police said the incident took place at 12.35 a.m. in front of a club in the same road). The dispute had not turned physical by then but seven policemen came running over the hill and went straight for the black man, knocked him down, lifted him up like a sack of potatoes and threw him into a police van with no questions asked while allowing the Maltese man to leave, said Mr Caruana Galizia, who was also part of the crowd that gathered outside the police station. Friday night was like a witch hunt. It was crazy. I was shocked, he said. Neil Falzon, head of the UNHCR office in Malta, said he was aware of the case involving Mr Abubaker. I will be strongly advising people making such claims to file a report to the Police Commissioner. If the allegations are confirmed, I believe we are dealing with a very serious situation and I expect the authorities to take action and see to it that nothing like this happens again. Obviously, I cannot pass judgment for the time being but it is definitively worrying that we are getting so many of these reports. He reported that just two days ago the UNHCR office received a similar report from a migrant who said he had an argument with a local and that the police arrested him without even questioning the other man. We strongly suggested that the man files a police report but he refused saying he was afraid because he works in the area, he said.

Nibqghu fGunju meta Alfred Zahra de Domenica kiteb hekk, On Wednesday, June 25 at just after 11 p.m. a bus stopped suddenly at Balluta, St Julians, where the driver got out of his seat and repeatedly savagely assaulted one of his passengers, a foreign young man, who was sitting on the seat on the driver's left. I immediately phoned the St Julians police station to inform them of the incident and to give them the bus number, which I still have. However after the phone, having rung for one full minute, not eliciting a reply, I called the police on 119. The officer on duty immediately answered the phone and on being told of the incident, instead of asking me for more details and alerting a mobile squad vehicle, asked me whether I had filed a report at the local police station, a good 15 minutes walk away from where I was standing, as it is up to them to take action. I told him that I was reporting the incident to him and asked him for his number, which he gave me. He never asked me for the bus number or for any further information about the unfolding incident. By the time my conversation with the bureaucratic police officer was over the bus driver had returned to his bus and resumed his journey, presumably to Valletta.

FLulju kien imiss mara mill-Kappara li ddeskriviet xghaddiet minnu. A 59-year-old-woman from Kappara yesterday alleged being assaulted by a police officer near ChiswickHouseSchool in Kappara. The woman claimed to have been driving up Antonio Schembri Street when a police officer stopped her to issue a summons for breaching a no entry regulation. The sign said it was illegal to drive up that part of Antonio Sciortino Street On school days only. The driver claimed that after receiving the summons, the police ordered her not to continue driving up the road but to reverse and use another road even though she was almost at the top of it. When refusing to do so, the police officer followed her on his motorbike and she claimed he shouted at her for not obeying orders when he caught up. The woman claimed to repeatedly request the officer to stop shouting while he was taking her particulars, consequently jabbing her in the right arm with his pen. This resulted in a bruise which the heath centre described as slight, save complications. The woman said she filed a complaint about the matter with the Police Commissioner and the Prime Minister and the Justice Minister. Contacting the police for their reactions, The Malta Independent received no reply until time of going to print. Ara The Malta Independent 25.7.2008

L-imgieba moqzieza tal-pulizija kompliet ukoll fSettembru. Antoine F. Zammit minn St. Venera kiteb hekk fThe Times tat-30 tax-xahar, I wish to bring to the attention of readers an episode which happened last Saturday night at Paceville at about 4.20 a.m. I was standing in St George's Road, with two other friends, along with many other young people as we usually do during weekends, when we were abruptly approached by a female police officer. Initially, I could not understand what was happening. We found ourselves suddenly encircled by 10 or more hostile police officers, who verbally attacked us! Absolutely ridiculous. My friend obviously stood up for himself, pointing out that he was not doing anything illegal, and suggested that laws were being broken continually all over the place. It was then that another police officer intervened arrogantly, uttering that no one should interfere in how they do their job. May I remind that it is our right, as citizens, their clients, to make suggestions, and their duty is to be there at our service? Also their job is financed by the taxes we all pay. Is it ethical to target, unmotivated, at random, individuals in the street, when there are more serious problems and threats around? One cannot generalise and blame the whole establishment. I only hope that this will be just an isolated case involving two very insolent and unprofessional police officers, who surely need to be retrained with regards to "customer care" skills. As it later transpired, what elicited such a heroic action was a joke or a compliment by one of my friends to an acquaintance passing by. What's wrong with that? The policewoman chased him to us, and verbally attacked the three of us, because she thought he was complimenting her instead. We were perplexed and bewildered, like "What? Is this a bad joke?"! As if we were some sort of terrorists or sociopaths creating havoc. Needless to say, they left us alone when I declared that I was going to write to this newspaper. I was about to burst into laughter. We were doing nothing illegal, simply standing in the street, in a supposedly free country. Abusing, blatantly, of one's authority, even if only verbally, against law abiding citizens is certainly not acceptable and it is a cause for diminished thrust from the public towards the police force. This may be nothing special, but episodes like this surely arouse serious many worries as they pose a direct threat to freedom, democracy, and the peace of mind of having fundamental freedoms safeguarded as a citizen. Besides, let's not overlook the potential damage to the tourism industry if we happened to be tourists, which we could perfectly have been. To conclude, to the two police officers I say: "Never judge a parcel by its package!" I demand an apology on behalf of myself, and my friends, as we were really upset by what happened and truly felt vilified by the persons who should be there to protect us, not harm us.

Araw issa Ottubru. Nibdew fl-1 tOttubru, A woman charged with the attempted murder of her neighbour testified that she had once called the police to stop an argument but was told by the officer that he could only help if she called him once the matter turned violent. Louise Zahra told jurors in her trial that she had phoned the police when her husband and uncle were involved in an argument with their neighbour Stephen Sultana. The police officer on duty said he could not do much unless the matter became violent and, shortly afterwards, she saw her neighbour beat her uncle violently.

2010

Fil-5 ta Lulju, di-ve.com irrapurtat xqal l-Istitut tal-Gurnalisti Maltin dwar xghamlu, jew ahjar xma ghamlux il-pulizija. an incident on July 4 when journalist Brandon Pisani and cameraman Patrick Borg, both of Favourite TV, were threatened and deterred from covering a traffic accident in Orlando Street, Zabbar. One of the men involved in the collision, who was driving a Ferrari, started insisting that no footage of the incident should be shot, and threatened Mr Pisani and Mr Borg. Although there were a number of police officers at the site, they did nothing to help out the crew, and the reporters could not finish their job because of the unchecked threats, said the IGM. Institute chairman Malcolm J Naudi said that this was not the first time something like this had happened, and offered his solidarity with the reporters.

FAwwissu wkoll, fintervista li dehret online fuq maltatoday.com mas-Sindku Nazzjonalista ta Tas-Sliema, intqal, Dimech was summoned for a chat, he says, by police inspector Angelo Gafa over the phone. I entered the building with my fiancée who waited in the waiting room while I was asked to go to the Inspectors office. He told me I was under arrest and I smiled and he shouted that this is no joke and to go tell my fiancée, Valentina, to leave. My fiancée did not leave and waited for me there all the long hours of my interrogation. At 9.45 am, he was told that if he did not fully corroborate what he was saying, I will be dragged in front of all the press to court I told him that this was not fair and I wanted to have a lawyer present. I was given a phone and I tried to phone my lawyer but he was abroad. When I asked to call another lawyer the police did not let me. Dimech claims the police inspector told him to consider his political career already over and perhaps salvage my professional business. He also says he was told that if he didnt admit to Buhagiars allegation, otherwise he would make a show of me to the press. I kept on telling him that Buhagiars statement was not true but he would not accept this. This mental torture continued until 12.58pm. At this point, Dimech says a police sergeant entered the room while the interrogating officer started typing a statement. While I kept repeating what I said was the truth, I felt the interrogating officer getting very angry. By 1:55pm, he finished the statement and instructed the police officers to lock me up in the basement prison cells. At this stage, Dimech says he was growing very anxious and started having trouble breathing. I was wheezing and got a severe panic attack. I asked for my ventolin (inhaler) and two tranquilizers, so that I can breath properly as I suffer from chronic asthma and breathing panic attacks. Dimech says the police called the doctor to confirm his condition and get him medication. My medication did not arrive. I spent over two hours experiencing acute asthma and panic attacks on my own in a cell. Dimech says his fiancée brought his inhaler from the car at 2pm, but two hours later he still was without his inhaler. At about 4pm, I was exhausted, broken. The police took me back up to the interrogation room and demanded a second statement. At this point I just signed whatever they said as I really needed my medication. I did not even read the second statement. I was told I could leave, and a police officer gave me my medication. I was disgusted with the treatment I had been subjected too.

FMejju wkoll Daphne Caruana Galizia kitbet hekk, I have met some decent and honest police officers over the years, but have also had more than a few awful experiences which convinced me that corruption, abuse, unethical behaviour and malpractice are rampant in the force and that standards are so low that some police officers seem to think that lying and abuse are normal and acceptable as long as you achieve your (wrong) objectives. I have even seen police officers lying under oath, blatantly, without being reprimanded by the magistrate in question  two different magistrates. One case involved me, when the entire contingent of officers from Spinola police station was shepherded to court in full force, wasting an entire morning of police time, to testify under oath that I had threatened their superior and virtually assaulted him (yet they didnt arrest me on the spot, strangely enough). One daft policewoman, while still on the witness stand, turned to her superior when shed finished, and said, in a voice heard by the entire courtroom, Hux hekk għidtli biex ngħid, sir? Then I testified, denied everything and said that I had never seen these people except for the police officer who said Id threatened him. The magistrate dismissed the case but failed to order the investigation of the police officers for clearly lying under oath. He didnt so much as reprimand them.

2013

FMejju, harget din l-informazzjoni u akkuza fkaz li jmur lura sal-2006. A man described in court today how he was beaten up by policemen who, it was claimed, had also threatened to have sex with his wife in front of him. Joseph Azzopardi, 43 of Sta Lucija, was testifying in a case where he stands accused of assaulting the police and violently resisting arrest on February 10, 2006 near Hagar Qim. He told the court that on the day, he was at a restaurant with his family. Two men started arguing and throwing bottles. He told them to quiet down and banged on the table A thick gold bracelet which he was wearing fell to the floor. At that point Mr Azzopardi said he and his family left the restaurant. As they were driving home, he realised that he had lost his bracelet and they headed back to the restaurant. On the way, he spotted a police car and told the policemen what had happened. One of the policemen told him in a vulgar way that they did not care. One of the policemen then drove the police car forward, pinning him against his own car. He then got out and started beating him up, Mr Azzopardi told the court. He said one of the policemen's names was Joseph and he was known as l-annimal. The other one was known as 'ginger'. The assault took place in front of his wife and two young children. A number of other policemen who happened to have been investigating the restaurant fight also turned up and started hitting him. Mr Azzopardi said he remembered the tattoo of a snake on the calf muscle of one of the policemen. Breaking into tears, he said he could never forget what happened. He could picture and recognise every one of the policemen, but he never filed a report. He said his children witnessed the incident. One of them had continued to stammer from that day, and they were both afraid of the police. Sharon Azzopardi, the accused's wife, told the court that she almost went crazy as she saw the officers beating up her husband. She said one of the officers told her husband that they were going to have sex with her in front of him. The children were crying throughout all this. She said her husband was then arrested and taken to police headquarters but he was not accepted because he was badly beaten up. Instead he was taken to a health centre and later kept under arrest and charged with violently resisting the police.

Il-Laboratorju Forensiku

A number of forensic experts have again complained about the state of the Forensic Laboratory, adding that they cannot continue working under the prevailing circumstances. In a letter sent to Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera yesterday, chemist Mario Mifsud, serologist Robert Cardona and analyst Godwin Sammut said they cannot carry out work ordered by the court because of the state of the forensic laboratory and the lack of adequate equipment to carry out the necessary tests.Speaking to The Malta Independent, the experts said this was the second time they complained about this and other similar matters. They added that in the last 18 months, they had approached several court officials and officials from the Justice Ministry to speak to them about the problem. Moreover, they said, members of the judicature had personally visited the laboratory to see for themselves the state of the lab. They said that so as not to stop or slow down the court proceedings, they had continued working, but now the situation has become unbearable and they do not want to continue working in this environment. They feel they have given the authorities enough time to bring the lab up to standard. However, despite several promises, this was never done, they said. The experts added that the lack of adequate equipment in the lab put their health and safety at work in jeopardy. As examples of equipment that was missing, the experts mentioned fume cabinets and biological cabinets that would protect them while they are carrying out tests on items given to them by the court. They said they had written to the Occupational Health and Safety Authority informing it about the situation at the laboratory. Moreover, they complained that they do not have enough space to store all the exhibits passed on to them by the court for testing. The experts said that because of this situation at the lab, they are not able to carry out their job in a professional manner, adding that before the situation at the lab is improved, they will not be able to carry out their job as expected. Dan kien rapport ta The Malta Independent on Sunday tal-5 ta Settembru 2004.

As the saga of the Forensic Laboratory continues, and is entering its fourth week, the court is encountering difficulties in its work because forensic experts cannot do their job. Unfortunately, such an important branch  without which the courts cannot function properly  is not being given enough weight by the authorities. Even though conscious of the situation, the government seems to be doing little about it. The issue is even more serious now that the court is starting to feel the lack of the forensic examinations that up to 10 September were being carried out by the three scientists at the laboratory. Now that their services can no longer be provided, because the lab is closed, magistrates are having problems. A magistrate cannot submit cases for the consideration of the Attorney General if the evidence concerning the case is not complete. This means that without the report and testimony of the forensic experts, the court process will stall. Can we afford to have more problems in court? While Parliament is at present discussing a bill that will establish a Centre for Mediation to reduce the backlog of cases, we are creating a greater backlog with a Forensic Laboratory which is not functioning. With this situation, lawyers are now taking the upper hand, and using the opportunity to get their clients off the hook. Earlier this week, one lawyer asked the court to free his client because, as he said, justice delayed is justice denied. Can Malta afford this? Can we afford to give possible criminals  because everyone accused is considered innocent until proved guilty  the opportunity to be cleared of a crime just because of a Forensic Lab which needs to be given a face-lift? The issue all started on 10 September, when the Occupational Health and Safety Authority issued a stop order directing the three employees of the Forensic Lab not to carry out any more work inside the lab at the Evans Building in Valletta. The OHSA, in its official letter, blamed the serious health risks the employees were facing on a daily basis. The Malta Independent was at the forefront in exposing the problems the employees were facing every day at work and investigated the serious health risks the OHSA mentioned in its directive to the Forensic Laboratory employees. This newspaper has already said that the order issued by the OHSA with regard to the Forensic Lab should not be taken lightly by the authorities. And even though the authorities have told us that the issue is being tackled, matters have not improved. Or, at least, if something is being done, why is it not made public? Why is the government remaining silent on the issue? The extensive coverage given to this story by this newspaper also raised the eyebrows of two Malta Labour Party MPs, Anglu Farrugia and Gavin Gulia, who called a press conference outside the lab to complain about the issue. And last Tuesday, and again on Wednesday, Dr Gulia and Dr Farrugia raised the issue in Parliament, calling on the Speaker of the House to allow the issue to be debated with urgency. This request was turned down because, according to the Speaker, it was not urgent. How can the matter not be considered urgent when the courts are being hit so hard? In addition to the list of problems, a non-operational Forensic Laboratory will also create difficulties with court cases concerning crimes committed since its closure. Evidence such as body fluids, swabs and blood samples are very important when proving someones guilt or innocence. The value of this evidence is being lost because these samples are not being stored in the appropriate manner, making it difficult to achieve the results expected when the Forensic Laboratory, hopefully sooner rather than later, is again up and running. The authorities have to see to this matter immediately. Otherwise, this problem will have a ripple effect on other issues, including the backlog of court cases. Malta cannot afford this. We already have too many problems on our plate that must be solved. The Forensic Laboratory is one of the most important and urgent ones.

Rapporti dejjem jizdiedu li jhammru wicc il-korp

It-Taqsima tal-Kavallerija

Korp tal-Pulizija Inkompetenti, ghar ... tad-dahk

Aqraw aktar ...

The authorities have failed dismally to enforce their own notices. The police who eventually are the law enforces have shown an incompetence on this regard which everyone, regrettably, nowadays takes for granted. The authorities who mounted the "xummiemu" campaign did not bother about enforcing their own instructions. The police did not seem to care.

The Sunday Times 2.8.92

Traffic control by the police is virtually non-existent these days.

Editorjal, The Times 24.8.92

Jailbreaks or escapes from police custody have become fairly frequent.

The Times 2.2.93

Traffic policemen have a fantastic way of doing things. Guess where one parked his motorcycle when he got down to book drivers for parking offences in Girolamo Cassar AvenueValletta, the other day. Right in the middle of the road.

On the dot, The Times 15.2.93

The apparent inability of the police force to solve major burglaries, including those involving large sums of money... has the dual effect of making the people worry about the security measures and of reassuring criminals that the probability of their getting away with impunity is considerably high.

Editorjal, The Times 5.3.93

People living in areas close to the church at Paola are still disgusted at the way the police reacted to their complaints about the noise and heat emanating from a generator operating from 6.00 pm till late at night ... by doing nothing.

On the dot, The Times 16.8.93

Hunters nearly wipe out entire bird population at is-simar... MOS was told the police could not take action as no transport was available... The police could not search for the guns because they did not have torches.

The Times 7.12.94

Last Sunday, one "obnoxious" boy kept going deliberately near the jetty (with speedboat) and around the yachts under the very nose of the policemen but no action was taken against him.

The Malta Independent 23.7.95

Policeman refuses to help car park attendant catch would-be thief saying he was not from the district.

The Times 25.10.95

3 policemen showed up after about 15 minutes. By then the fight had dwindled to a scuffle. Unfortunately they did not intervene and even prevented people from going to the aid of the foreigners, telling them not to get involved.

The Malta Independent 12.5.96

International press reports and pictures linking suspected Libyan terrorist Musbah Abulgasem Eter with Malta is a matter of great concern for Malta. It has been confirmed locally that Eter was the director of a Malta-based offshore company and he used to live here in the early 90s. Despite being wanted by police abroad, he reportedly used his real name to travel to Malta and was never found out. He may even have been granted a work permit.

Editorjal, The Times 4.9.97

The commissioner of police needs to understand that for St. Pauls Bay residents it is simply pointless having a prominent building on the main street with the sign police station and the blue lamp on the front door, if the place is closed and unmanned for at least 20 hours per day.

On the dot, The Times 25.8.2003

Two men were yesterday acquitted of involvement in the disturbance that broke out during the September 8 regatta in a judgment in which a magistrate expressed her concern over a case where police arraigned two men on a series of charges, most of which were not even remotely proven.

The situation at the city gate bus terminus is so chaotic that a serious accident is bound to happen any time now really the situation has become far too chaotic, far too dangerous.How can the authorities allow this to happen? Are there no police to take the situation in hand?

Editorjal, The Times 8.4.2002

Certain cars can be driven off the road immediately, without any qualms, if the police have eyes.

Editorjal, The Times 18.6.2002

Why does traffic belch heavy smoke everywhere  but everywhere with impunity. There must be a reason for the police and wardens to be so helpless in this area. Lack of will somewhere at the top?

Editorjal, The Times 3.9.2002

In the past we used to see some traffic policemen here and there. Where are they today?

Editorjal, The Times 23.8.2002

While the use of hand-held suffarelli had been banned for over eight years, the practice was back in full force with people letting them off under the polices nose.

Secretary of the Malta Pyrotechnics Association

Joe Theuma

The Times 4.8.2003

Several personal cars used by policemen that were illegally parked, most of which did not display the V licence required to enter Valletta were being repeatedly overlooked by the policeman over the past few days, though he did not fail to book vehicles in other areas.

The Times 29.8.2003

The following tableau took place at around 1.30am last Friday in Paceville. What happened was quite simple: a man toppled over and fell down in the street, and stayed down. The policemen, some seven of them, came. For long minutes, they stood around the man. One of them was smoking. Their crowding round the man may not have been the right thing to do. Then, after some 10 or 15 minutes, one of the policemen brought out a pair of rubber gloves, and, after turning them over many times in his hand, trying to see which fits which hand, he put them on. Then, predictably, he crouched down. Predictably too, the first thing he did was touch the ground with his gloved hands. They then turned the man face upwards: the mans face was ash-white. Although the people looking on did not notice at the time, the man had badly hit the back of his head when he fell down and was losing a quantity of blood. This is where it gets comical: some minutes after the ambulance left, the policemen suddenly started thinking the man could have had drugs. So out came notebooks and pencils and the police began to question the people standing around, and then the nearby bars and bouncers. Well, what if the man had taken something: do the police think that people selling drugs have brains as slow as this? Or would not they have meanwhile made their getaway while the police were confabulating and staring at the wounded man? Besides, why were so many of them there? One or two could have coped with the accident, and the rest could have continued policing Paceville. Or can we say that while this operation was going on, there was no other policeman around in the district?

Editorjal, The Malta Independent 25.3.2004

I have discovered why the police freephone number, 800772373 is free. No one actually bothers to answer, so no charge is incurred!

Mark Harwood, San Gwann

The Times 13.7.2004

Murad G.M. Erhuma, a 24-year-old Libyan prison inmate, escaped from St Luke's hospital Friday morning, the police said. Erhuma, who was in hospital for a check-up and was being escorted by two policemen, managed to escape through a window on the third floor.

G'MANGIA, Malta (di-ve news)--February 25, 2005 -- 1540CET

Frank Pace, 25, an inmate at Corradino Correctional Facility yesterday managed to escape his police escort when he was receiving treatment at St. Luke's Hospital.

The Times 11.4.2005

An illegal immigrant who was recovered at St. Luke's Hospital escaped police custody on Saturday night at around 2040CEST.

FLORIANA, Malta (di-ve news) -- June 19, 2005 --0945CEST 

The Police knew that the fireworks for St Josephs feast in Msida would be launched from a field full of tall dry grass  an obvious fire hazard according to Civil Protection chief Peter Cordina  but issued the permit anyway, The Malta Independent has learnt. An official police spokesman confirmed to this newspaper that the police knew about the dry grass in the field and issued the permit anyway, ignoring the risk involved in launching petards next to dry grass. The seal of approval by the police was actually given by three officers  as is required according to procedure  an inspector, a superintendent and an assistant commissioner.

The Malta Independent 25.7.2005

At Ta Kandjas police compound, where impounded vehicles are kept in a confined space surrounded by metres of barbed wire, there is no guarantee of security. It was a nasty surprise for the owner of a Toyota GT Turbo whose car was involved in fatal accident some three years ago to find his car completely dismantled, and left standing with nothing but the outer frame and the car engine.

Malta Today 24.7.2005

I went with my family and as soon as I parked my car, I was greeted by a man who asked me for a parking fee. I got confused and told him that Farsons promotes and advertises proudly that parking is free. He replied that there are no fixed rates and that I can give him as much as I like. Still confused, I tipped him with a few cents (since he knew which car was mine, I was afraid he might damage it) and walked to the festival. Once at the gate I came across a policeman and told him about an unauthorised man asking people for a parking fee when everybody knows that it is supposed to be free. To add insult to injury he shrugged his shoulders and told me I can do nothing about it. He then walked away, leaving me open-mouthed.

Josef Zarb, Birkirkara

The Times 30.7.2005

Mrs Grech said she had told the police her dog did not have a licence and that she was prepared to pay the licence or the fine. However I was stunned to see the charge that I failed to keep the dog under control and that it was a danger to others. We are talking of a Chihuahua, kelb tal-but!, she said. At first I thought this was some error and that the police had mixed up the names of the man who owned the dangerous dog but when my father spoke to the police about it they said there was absolutely no mistake and that the sergeant had done the paperwork himself. They stood by what was written in the charges, she said. After losing Sophie, in what I can only describe as the most horrible day of my life and a nightmare that I relive every night in my dreams, the police are now saying that the poor, tiny, friendly and utterly helpless little Sophie was a danger to people and that I failed to control her. Where is the justice in that?

The Times 17.8.2005

5.50 a.m. (before dawn) Shooting started in Sta Lucija, Gudja, Luqa areas, and rapidly increased in volume and numbers of shooters. .13 a.m. Phoned police GHQ, Floriana on the special direct hunting reports line to police given by George Pullicino, Minister of Rural Affairs and the Environment, and widely publicised in the media in March 2005. The officer on duty put me through to Hamrun police station and the constable said the area did not fall under their jurisdiction and passed me on to Paola police station. The duty officer in Paola said they would pass on the report. .20 a.m. Shooting continued to increase. I wondered why my original call was not put through to the administrative law enforcement unit (ALE). 6.45 a.m. I again rang the direct hunting line and asked 'Is this the illegal hunting direct line I am dialling?' I was told to hold on and I was put through on an extension. I waited as the phone rang, and rang and rang, while shots crashed out in sustained volleys all around me. Finally, I realised no one was going to answer and I had to put the phone down and redial the original number. A female duty officer answered and I asked her for the illegal hunting line and again was put through to an extension. Again, no one answered until I was forced to redial yet again. This time the same female officer put me through to Paola police station and I was told by a policeman at Paola that they will pass the report on to Luqa police station. I asked whether the ALE was available but he had already put the phone down. It was now 6.58 a.m. The volume of shooting is now terrific and blatant. I could not believe it was being ignored. It was as bad as any day I heard during the hunting season. .12 a.m. Dialled direct hunting line again but could get no reply. .13 a.m. Redialled the same number and was informed by that the ALE was not available as they were doing other work. The policeman then said he'll pass me on to the Paola police station and I replied that I had already been connected to them before and that shooting was still going on and increasing. He hung up. 7.24 a.m. I gave up at this stage as I was leaving for Marsaxlokk. Shooting was still constant as I drove off. 8.35 a.m. At Marsaxlokk: same situation prevailed there, heavy shooting all around. Phoned the police direct line again; they said they would put me through to ALE. I told them no one was answering but I was still put on extension. Still no reply. As it was ringing another police officer picked the phone up and said 'hello'. I asked if that was the ALE. He said he'll put me through and before I could tell him that no one was answering, he had done so. I waited until the constant ringing was cut off unanswered. .00 a.m. Phoned Birdlife to tell them the trouble I was having trying to make an illegal hunting report to the ALE. They said they could not get through to ALE either. 9.35am In spite of all my calls the shooting continued unabated. .13 a.m. Phoned Marsaxlokk police station to make a report as this was their area. A policeman from the Zejtun police station answered and informed me the Marsaxlokk station was closed. I asked if I could report illegal hunting in this area to him and he said 'yes'. I offered to meet them at Marsaxlokk to point out the shooters but he cut me short saying: 'You've made the report, good day, sir' and put the phone down. .25 a.m. Shooting still going on. Phoned Birdlife again; told them the situation and the run around I was being given. They said they would try and report it to the ALE themselves. .35 a.m. Widespread shooting still going on - no slackening in spite of all promises to 'pass it on'. I now gave up on the direct hunting line and phoned ALE on a direct line, which I was given by a colleague. I tried this number twice but got no reply. 11.55 a.m. No slackening in shooting. Tried ALE direct line again. No reply. .18 p.m. Shooting continuing, as it has been all morning. At this stage I gave up in disgust. It is difficult to express the frustration and anger I felt at witnessing the law being broken so openly and with such blatant contempt. This was exacerbated by the lack of effect my reports had. I still do not know what other work the ALE were involved in but it seems that the police in general were totally unable to control the situation or even make a serious attempt to do so. As for Minister Pullicino's direct no-waiting hotline I think the above account speaks for itself!" Mr Williams said. Contacted for a reaction, a spokesman for the ministry said it was the police who had to answer as it was not the ministry that carried out enforcement.

Clifford J. Williams

The Times 1.9.2005

The police were yesterday searching for two illegal immigrants who escaped from the detention centre at police headquarters in Floriana on Thursday. The police said three immigrants had cut an opening in a fence at the back of the complex and scaled down a wall at about 6.30 p.m.

The Times 28.1.2006

The Floriana Local Council condemned the furious attacks on the Vilhena Band Club premises in Floriana by Valletta supporters after the end of the Victory Day regatta. Floriana mayor Publio Agius told the press that he had received confidential information prior to the attacks but the police did not take any action. The mayor said that the police were immediately informed after he had received information that Valletta supporters were going to attack and vandalise a number of premises in Floriana after the regatta ends. He added the police had assured him that a group of police officers will be placed in a number of areas around Floriana, including in front of the Vilhena Band Club. Aguis said that the only police officers present during the accidents were the same officers who were accompanying the supporters on their way to Valletta from PintoWharf through Capuchin's Street. The mayor commented that the violent attacks were not small in nature. They had terrorised both the residents and the business community of Floriana. He emphasised that the police should be responsible for not protecting the locality despite being informed of the attacks.

FLORIANA, Malta (di-ve news) -- September 09, 2006 -- 1810CEST 

The memo issued just over a week ago by the inspector in charge of the police administrative law enforcement unit and, evidently, endorsed by the Commissioner of Police himself, has rightly raised eyebrows, given the above. It instructs officers to file a report, but not charges as yet, against hunters and trappers caught contravening certain sections of the hunting law. The controversial memo opens a can of worms; it sends the wrong signal that some may be more equal than others; that the government may be strong with the weak and weak with the strong; that the law of the land can be put in deep freeze if that means not annoying a sizeable section of the population, though still a minority, just months prior to a general election. What a shame! What a circus! The comments made by Police Commissioner John Rizzo about the memo are at best pathetic, at worst dangerous.

Editorjal, The Times 9.10.2006

The revelation that a wanted man was, almost literally, put on a plane to escape by a police officer is incredible. The harsh comments made by Mr Justice Joe Galea Debono about the matter are fair and timely.

On The Dot, The Times 4.6.2007

In the last few months there have been three serious incidents involving the Malta Police Force which have inevitably given rise to speculation on whether they were the results of cock-ups - police incompetence - or conspiracy and cover-ups.

Editorial, The Times 16.8.2008

In St Anne Street, Floriana, which handles 30,000 cars every day, one can notice cars parked on the yellow lines, day and night, for long periods of time. The Floriana police station is on that same road and quite a number of people in authority drive past.

A man charged with disobeying police orders was acquitted after the officers who were meant to testify as the prosecution's main witnesses missed the court sitting because they were distributing voting documents. Magistrate Silvio Meli, who was presiding over the St Julians district sitting, said it was unacceptable that the prosecution's main witnesses failed to turn up at a court sitting to do some other job.

The Times 11.5.2009

Shortly after 1 a.m., The Sunday Times followed two (police) officers inside a relatively empty bar on St George's Road, where it was apparent that some patrons were smoking. However, they simply threw their cigarettes on the floor while the police chatted to a staff member.

The Sunday Times 7.2.2010

The police are currently carrying out a search for prisoner Joseph Cini, known as "il-Pele", in the vicinity of Rabat following reports that he was seen in the Nigret area. Mr Cini escaped from custody this morning while being attended to as a patient at Mater Dei Hospital. The Justice Ministry announced his escape in a statement this afternoon. It said that the Corradino Correctional Facility authorities were informed of the escape at around 6.45 a.m. Mr Cini was medically referred to Mater Dei Hospital yesterday after he complained he was suffering from severe chest pain. He was kept in hospital for observation and treatment. At about 6.30 a.m. he managed to elude the two officers guarding him and made his way out of the hospital without their becoming aware of his absconding. On his way out, he was accosted by another officer who was reporting for duty for a change of shift with the overnight officers. The inmate took to his heels with the officer giving chase on foot in the direction of San Gwann Industrial Estate, where the officer lost sight of the prisoner. timesofmalta.com 20.8.2011, 14:05